Project overview

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Rising sea levels threaten U.S. coastlines with accelerating erosion, flooding, and biodiversity loss. Traditional concrete seawalls protect against storm surges and may provide habitat for bottom-living organisms and fishes, but what controls this seawall biodiversity is poorly understood. For example, important factors might be construction material, age, depth, and location.

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A critical element of this project at Florida International University, which also includes education and engineering components, is the use of a standardized monitoring method to allow scientists to assess the biodiversity of communities on multiple different seawalls. Using photographic checklists, roving diver surveys, and underwater videos, the project will quantify organisms found on a wide range of walls. Then the research team will analyze the resulting data set to understand what factors affect which fish, corals, algae, and sponges are found on walls throughout the South Florida region.

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What we need

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To build our database, we are seeking to survey approximately 50 unique seawall sites along the Southeast Florida coastline. Homeowners and business owners with waterfront properties that include seawalls are encouraged to participate in this research. Participation involves a one-time commitment of 3-4 hours during which you would just need to provide access to your seawall for our team to conduct non-invasive visual surveys of your seawall; we will not modify, attach equipment, or alter the seawall or surrounding area in any way. Our researchers will use underwater cameras and visual survey methods to document fish assemblages and benthic communities associated with your wall. Your participation will directly contribute to understanding how seawalls can better support marine biodiversity while maintaining coastal protection.

 

Those interested in participating are encouraged to fill out this form with the necessary information. For questions or more information, please contact Danni Cox.

 

Research team​